Iftar in Ras Al Khaimah, Al Marjan Island Tent
This northern emirate attraction proves a great alternative to other over-priced iftars.
In case you haven’t heard, Ras Al Khaimah called and said it’s tired of being referred to as ‘that other emirate’. So this Ramadan, it’s going all out to rival all the other emirates. Yes, we’re looking at you Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Al Marjan tent, situated on the shores of fast-rising and increasingly beautiful Al Marjan Island, is an opulent one -- but without the pretentiousness that comes with some of the fancy, overpriced tents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The mood here is welcoming, relaxed and comfortable, the décor is modern but with touches of Arabia.
For iftar, the cold starters were already laid out in tasting plates on our table, along with dates and water. That’s comforting for someone fasting, I thought. The rush at some of the iftar buffets I’ve been can sometimes be unnerving.
So we had a selection of cheese, cold cuts, a variety of salads and Arabic favourites: hummus, moutabel, tabbouleh and labneh etc. If you want more, you just walk over to the buffet.
There, the big eats are laid out. I headed straight for my favourites: The grilled meats -- always a safe bet when you’re confused where to start. The beef tenderloin slow roasted with mushroom sauce was tender and juicy. The eggplant moussaka, the casserole-style dish cooked with minced meat, was rich and addictive. When it comes to my biryanis, I usually like them with mutton or chicken, and not drenched with the masala. The prawn biryani proved an interesting choice, just dry enough and bursting with flavours. I won’t trade it for my mutton biryani, though.
Fort desserts, it’s the usual Arabic goodies. But there were a few Indian sweets, among them, my all-time love: the gulab jamun. My favourite way to have it is warm, drenched in the sugar syrup with vanilla ice cream on the side. Heaven in your mouth.
As soon as iftar if over, the tent fills up for suhour, for which you pay extra. The evening we went, it seemed even more popular than the iftar. And as the shisha pipes come out, it seems as if the day’s just begun in Ras Al Khaimah.
The details
Where: Al Marjan Tent, Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah
Price: Dh95
Call: 07-2444400.
